Coal magnate Clive Palmer says no to coal seam gas

BUSINESSMAN and budding politician Clive Palmer has turned his back on sections of the resources industry by joining the campaign against coal seam gas in Australia.

Despite previously investing in a company that wanted to develop onshore oil and gas in Australia, Mr Palmer released a statement on Thursday that firmed his stance against coal seam gas.

"Let's take a breather on the coal seam gas industry," he said. "Lives are a lot more important than the extraction of coal-seam gas."

Mr Palmer's comments appear to be a reaction to Tuesday's report by NSW chief scientist Mary O'Kane, which declared coal seam gas drilling could pose health and environmental challenges and needed more research.

Mr Palmer is running for federal parliament under the banner of the 'Palmer United Party', and his comments are likely to be a pitch to rural voters in NSW who are concerned that the boom of coal seam gas in Queensland could be repeated near their homes.